"Ar Waith Ar Daith" / The Good Earth

Along with hundreds of others, I went down to Cardiff Bay on a cool, but mercifully rain-free Saturday night to witness “Ar Waith Ar Daith”, the huge open-air performance piece marking the 10^th anniversary of the Wales Millennium Centre. Produced by Walk The Plank, it was a celebration of the creative spirit of Wales, taking in movement, music (by John Rea) and poetry – even containing nods to sport and farming. Its centrepiece was opera singer Shan Cothi, playing Ceridwen, the enchantress, being ferried around on a huge, tree-like structure; and the massive cast included a choir of schoolchildren, a team of rowers, dancers, acrobats, and fluorescent animal puppets. Good use was made of the large spaces in front of the Centre, and the action was broadcast on big screens – just as well, since the large columns which are a feature of the Roald Dahl Plass inevitably obscured the view of proceedings at times. Various animations were projected onto the building itself, including a depiction of the birth of the bard Taliesin; and the 90-minute spectacular culminated in an impressive fireworks display. I can’t claim to have been on top of the narrative at all times, but the large crowd seemed engaged throughout, and its ambition could not be faulted.

Earlier in the week I went to Chapter to review “The Good Earth” – the first piece from Motherlode. About a tiny South Wales community being pressured to relocate, for fear of a mountain landslide, it was very well done, but I found it a tad manipulative – only presenting one side of the issue, harm coming to children etc. Excellent central performances, though.